Society for the preservation of old and endangered domestic animal races registered association (GO) Emphasis - pigs

The Wollschwein, also under its Hungarian name “Mangalica” (dt.: Mangalitza) admits, began more than 150 years ago its triumphant advance through half to Europe. Temporarily it ranked some place among the pigs usually-held. Quantity and quality of its bacon looked for their-same. Since however bacon and Schweinschmalz apply nothing more, this old achievement race has retired, displaced from modern ham suppliers. Particularly after the Second World War the fall of the Wollschweinzucht began. Apart from the “wrong” production direction (bacon instead of ham) Wollschweine had the additional disadvantage not to be able to be kept industrial. Intensive attitude forms affect the fertility negatively.

Red Mangalitza (photo: Antje field man)

The origin of the Mangalitzas is disputed. Generally however is assumed the origin lay in the Kronländern old Danube red of the monarchy, however not in the main countries of Austria Hungary.

Description of race

There is three Mangalitza races well-known: blond, red and schwalbenbäuchig (with bright lower surface). The blond Mangalitza is called ur-Hungarian fat pig. Red Mangalitzas was bred from the red Szalonta pig, which originates from east Hungary filter defiency guarantees, today's Romania. Schwalbenbäuchige Mangalitzas are from the crossing of the blond Mangalitzas with the Serbian Szerémség (Syrmien) - developed for pig. The once existing black Mangalitzas became extinct.

Claws, trunk disk, eyelids and after are usually black. The ears are medium sized and forward hanging. The back is centrallong and moderately curved, the trunk short and deeply. Mangalitzas are durably, resistant against diseases and stress and can move owing to the strong legs and strong claws in each area surely. Also in the winter the animals may defy discharge in the free one and owing to the close Behaarung of cold weather. Particularly in the summer a sufficient Suhlmöglichkeit is necessary.

Schwalbenbäuchiges Mangalitza (photo: Antje field man)

Preservation measures in Hungary

Already end of the sixties set up Hungary, one of the countries of origin of this race, a program for the preservation of gene resources of the country. This obligated state goods and individual agricultural production cooperatives (LPG), to breed certain races. At the beginning of the seventies all Mangalitzas in Hungary had almost disappeared. In-colored black Mangalitza became extinct. A purposeful preservation breed was developed by the other still existing types, after by the existence genetic distance investigations could be made and strange Genotypen be selected. With the political and economic restructuring in Eastern Europe the national defaults for the agriculture came into the Wanken also in Hungary. Starting from 1990 there was a break-down with the preservation efforts, since national funds were painted. LPG after the other one stepped out of the Wollschweinzucht. With national support today decentralized herds of gene reserve are held. Regarding the use positive tendencies appear at present: a commercial company is at Mangalitza ham as high-quality delicate-eats interested.

At least small existence in the Southeast-European countries are to be still expected. A further search and the safety device of residues must be absolutely taken to the hand. Particularly in the origin area of the Mangalitzas, in the area Srêm (Srm) before the gates of Belgrade, is after “lasasta mangulica”, like the Wollschweine to be called here to search and existing existence are to be secured. In addition in the Wojwodina and in Slawonien existence can be assumed, likewise in Romania and in the Caucasus.

Preservation measures in Switzerland

1986 the breed of the schwalbenbäuchigen Mangalitza of four female and two male breed lines transferred Swiss organization pro Specie Rara (PSR) in Switzerland. Blood revitalizations made of Germany and Hungary prevented a too strong in-breeding. 1994 the “Swiss combination for the Wollschweinzucht based”, the breed and attitude of the Wollschweine to co-operation with PSR promotes. The breed is well organized. The groups of breeds cover in each case a Eber and to three Sauen. All animals are in every detail seized breed as shown by the books (inclusive. Exterieurbeurteilung). 13 sow EN and six Eberlinien of the schwalbenbäuchigen impact are differentiated, which decrease/go back to the following origins: the 1986 taken over origin population, the import 1987/88 of four Ebern from three lines of the north Germans breed as well as the blood revitalization import 1990/91 gene reserve supply of Hungary comprehensive from that at that time still approx. 200 breed animals.

An exchange of experience with breeders from other countries is very desired. With the PSR is available a manual, which is to obtain potential owner/inside an exact conception, on which expenditure with the Wollschweinhaltung to be counted is. The expenditure for the attitude is often overrated under and profitability. This partly led to the task of the attitude and a difficult search for new holding.

Preservation measures in Austria

In Austria Franz Punz succeeded in bringing from nearly all Hungarian breed lines of the schwalbenbäuchigen Mangalitzas some animals to Austria in order to receive all existing blood lines. Today with eight main breed lines one breeds, according to the different origins. In Austria the Mangalitzas is in by the association for the preservation of endangered domestic animal races (VEGH) initiated decentralized preservation breed. The spreading of the owners over completely Austria is to be welcomed surely much, however thereby a consistent support of the owners is very much difficult by the projects manager in the different regions as well as the selection of the animals for the stove book. The necessary markings are to be made, in order to be able to coordinate the breed in Austria. At present it is not well-known whether possibly blood revitalizations are necessary or similar preservation measures, which require an international co-ordination.

Preservation measures in Germany

In Germany three impacts of the Wollschweins are bred: red, blond and schwalbenbäuchig, about which one decreases/goes back to the blood exchange with the population of Switzerland. In Northern Germany in the last years the breed was developed by Eggo Andreesen into East Frisia and the Tierpark Warder in Schleswig-Holstein. The actual breed existence is altogether for instance with 160 animals, which are held mostly with small breeders with one to five animals. Unfortunately only the few are seized herdbuchmässig. The breed situation of these impacts is very different. At present is GO anxious to provide independent breed books for the impacts. Frequently there is owner, which does not take part actively in the breed and only single animals for looking purposes hold. Straight ones in Tierparks are shown Wollschweine gladly as ursprünglichste race. A publication about Wollschweine in a consumer magazine drew a large demand for these pigs. Those GO hopes that by this demand of more breeders for a long-term Wollschweinzucht engage themselves. 1997 were created a community of interests for the preservation of the Wollschweine.

The chance of the Wollschweine

Wollschweine are utilizable animals. If they want to survive on a long-term basis, they must bring any use. On the normal pig meat market they are however not competitive. Their chances are during the extensive pasture attitude. Them their robustness and its good climatic compatibility come zustatten. Contrary to modern intensive races they do not suffer member deformations with their strong legs also on aufgeweichten soils. Like became Ausmasten on alps in the summer and the Kastanienmast on the alpine south side, which does not only furnish qualitatively high-quality meat, but at the same time the existing Kastanienwälder maintains. In addition, Wollschweine are used for the order by fields and for raclamation from the culture of taken soils. Thus some owners use their animals for the paging of the meadows for potatoes, borrow them even to their neighbours for this purpose out. Particularly the Wollschweine worked also as reservation male nurses. Thus in each case a crowd Wollschweine comes on a gravel island lain with the Kreuzlinger port in the Bodensee with beginning of winter, which serves as breeding place for wading birds. This island is completely dug up instead of of excavators of weather and winterproof Wollschweinen. These eat everything that is digestable (them dear roots), and keep free thereby the island of vegetation. This successful experiment, which provided internationally for attention, was distinguished 1993 with Swiss price of the Conservation Foundation.

The tasty, veined meat of the Wollschweine is suitable very well to crickets. In particular splinter piglets become in the meat hardly ever drying. Because of the problem-free attitude one sees Wollschweine ever more also than so-called “accomodation pigs”, which improve at the same time the organic wastes of a city or a village accomodation in their way and the understanding and the relationship with the food with all involved ones promote meat. Beside the educational value and the attraction during lifetimes the accomodation pigs give cause for a large common celebration in each case after mast conclusion.

The future of the Wollschweine

In Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary the animals enjoy of increasing popularity. Sales markets are opened both in the nature protection and in the sales of high-quality biological meat goods. The Wollschweine has quite a chance of survival, if the breed can be ensured secured and the product marketing. In the main breed countries the Nukleuszuchten must be still strengthened and be coordinated over the national borders away. Efforts in addition were tackled by the European controlling body SAVE (Saveguard for Agricultural Varieties in Europe). For co-ordination first the stove books and the breed lines are to be co-ordinated and kept current. A meeting of the Wollschwein projects manager from the different countries is to deepen an exchange of experience to the different use possibilities and breeds and to point solutions out for possible existing in-breeding problems. To strengthening also the “Professionalisierung” the breeder belongs to the breed. Much knowledge around the free, extensive pasture attitude of pigs went in the last decades lost and must laboriously again be won. A working group of Swiss Wollschweinzüchtern arranged the experiences in breeder letters, made now. In the individual countries breeder combinations are to be created, which use themselves also for a continuous paragraph of the products. With the past efforts it was reached that the Wollschweine survived and enjoys of large popularity with the population. Still however much work stands before (those only to be still financially secured must), if this race is to be protected at longer term becoming extinct.

Literature:

GUGIC, GORAN: Pig hat and forest mast in Lonjsko Polje (Croatia). Thesis (diploma) to the Forstwissenschaftl. Fak. Munich, 1992.

PSR: Wollschweinhaltung: A manual for practice. Per Specie Rara, pc. Gallen, Switzerland (also available over GO, to joke living).

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